[lcwalker]

Ive been out delivering leaflets and not a call, i did manage to pick up 1 on the way round he just asked me straight away so it's not all bad, but i do know there are a fair few window cleaners in that town and one that has recently set up WFP he seems to do alot in the villages near me and TBH it's annoying to see him doing 2 of my neighbours house but he got there before me so fair play to him, so im off to the another town near me tomorrow.
I know some say door knocking works but does it long term i think if your phoned from a leaflet they really want a w/c are they feeling more pressured face to face.
Ive been doing gardening work for many years and just a small amount of windows over the years but in the last year or so i have picked up quite a few and i much preffer it to the gardening.But i use to get about 1 to 2 calls every 100 but in this town ive delivered over 500 and apart from the 1 i got not a call, but i want about 25 more jobs but it seems like it's going to take me an age to get them, but i wont give up.

[Jackal]

like you said tho mate there are quite a few windys round there,i try deliver business cards once a year around my "patch" about 3000 houses and there are parts that i get nowt from so i wont go back to there,and others that seem alot better iv only managed to deliver 1 day this year due to working 4 days a week and being bone idiol,but got 6 new ones from 400 business cards,just about eliminating areas

[Smudger]

i don't want to sound harsh IC but over the year i've seen several posts from you concerning work or lack of,

you really need to give yourself a good kick up the rear.

over 70% of my work comes from door knocking - it used to be 100% but now i get many rec's and lots through the web and people seeing the van - all those rec's are from those i knocked ! my custy's are loyal regardless of how they
came to use me - mostly because we turn up when we say (given a next clean date) and do a top quality job.

treat them right and you'll keep them!  just get out there and get some custy's !

Darran

[lcwalker]

i don't want to sound harsh IC but over the year i've seen several posts from you concerning work or lack of,

you really need to give yourself a good kick up the rear.

over 70% of my work comes from door knocking - it used to be 100% but now i get many rec's and lots through the web and people seeing the van - all those rec's are from those i knocked ! my custy's are loyal regardless of how they
came to use me - mostly because we turn up when we say (given a next clean date) and do a top quality job.

treat them right and you'll keep them!  just get out there and get some custy's !

Darran

I get your point, but as for a kick up the rear thats a harsh statement as im getting out dropping leaflets im not sitting at home doing nothing, i have a fair few customers and like you i turn up when i say i will and do a qualitity job and when i get a job i hardly lose them.Also there are many on here that are not that confident door knocking and im one of them, you maybe someone who could sell ice to eskimos but everyones different.Also if you go door knocking where there are other window cleaners you wont get a job unless you are prepared to be out of order and undercut them.

[Smudger]

No your wrong, i couldn't sell ice to a thirsty man in the middle of the sahara !

after 2 years door knocking i still feel physically sick before i start knocking ! ( if you go back over a year you would find the post/thread where i said how hard i find it )

so how did i do it.......



well - for my family, if i didn't get out there and get the work in my family would be homeless, it was more important to me to get the work and earn than 'worry about what some old dear might say to me on her door step

leaflet all you want - day in/day out! - but try door knocking on Sunday 10am to 12.30 - even in a road that has several other w/c's and you will get work.  ( i can name six that service my village or 1400 houses) yet there is still
work going.

all you need is some self belief mate, - thats what sells you and your service BELIEF! - not fancy words/leaflets/promo's.

take a deep breath and knock a door!

Darran

[Johnny B]

When I started, I went knocking doors and picked up all of my initial work this way. I have never, ever leafleted, although I am not saying that it wouldn't work. It obviously does according to the experiences of some on here. I just preferred to meet potential customers face to face, so they could get an impression of me, and I of them. 

Being face to face with potential customers doesn't have to be seen to be pressurising them. All I did was say "Hello, I am starting up a window cleaning round in the neighbourhood, would you be interested at all?" Their response was either a) that they already had a window cleaner, b) that they did not want one, or c) they were interested and would ask you relevant questions.   

If they responded with either a) or b), I just thanked them for their time and apologized for troubling them, all with a friendly smile. If it was c), then I was in. 

It can be hard going, but if you keep positive and treat each person you call on as if they are the first you have spoken to, it will help to prevent them picking up any feelings of frustration you may feel if you get a number of rejections. If you are relaxed, you will more likely put the householder at ease and the work will come.

Best wishes,
John.

[D F WINDOW CLEANERS]

thanks for encouragement it is hard to knock but knock you must

[Johnny B]

It is daunting at first, but once you have done it and got a few customers under your belt, your confidence will grow. 

John

[Smudger]

Well said Jonny B

keep the sessions to about 2 hours that way you'll be fresh, bright and friendly !

Darran

[Jakey boy]

Why do you all get nervous? I've been going out canvassing week in week out, and sometimes get 0 custys and sometimes get 10! So it's the only way in my opinion to get work, 3 rules 1. Never ever undercut or steal work 2. Be chatty and completely yourself, 3. Enjoy it and be positive

You will pick up work if your talking to people, leaflets are just more junk mail to people, so knock and talk and your gonna pick up
plenty over the weeks, don't be nervous just act youself, because people like to know who there delong with